Humanitarian Futures: Gender, Displacement, and Justice Fellowship 2026

🏢 About the Fellowship

The Women's Refugee Commission (WRC) invites applications for an 8-month research fellowship designed to support mid-career researchers exploring critical questions at the intersection of gender, displacement, and humanitarian systems.

This program centers the leadership and knowledge of displaced women and seeks to generate research that challenges conventional humanitarian approaches while promoting inclusive, feminist alternatives. Fellows will receive:

• Financial support
• Research guidance
• Opportunities for peer learning and collaboration with WRC staff and a cohort of fellow researchers.

🎁 Benefits

Fellowship support includes:

• Research stipend
• Research support from WRC staff
• Peer learning and cohort support
• Opportunities to present findings at convenings and publish through WRC platforms

✅ Eligibility Criteria

The fellowship is seeking early to mid-career women researchers who:

• Have completed or are currently enrolled in a graduate degree (Master's or PhD) in a related field (e.g., International Studies, Political Science, Gender Studies, Public Health, Sociology, Anthropology, etc.) and have 3-10 years of research experience.
• Have lived experience of displacement, forced migration, or statelessness.
• Demonstrate commitment to participatory, community-centered research methodologies.
• Have experience working with or conducting research in displacement, migration, or humanitarian contexts.
• Are fluent in English.

Note: Women are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet all listed eligibility requirements.

🌟 Ideal Candidate

Ideal candidates will also:

• Have experience translating research into policy influence and advocacy.
• Possess strong skills in writing for various audiences and stakeholders.
• Be proficient in MS Office Suite and qualitative or quantitative data analysis software.
• Bring a gender justice lens to their work.

📝 Application Process

Required Documents:

1. Statement of Interest/Cover Letter (maximum 800 words):

   • Brief biography (200 words max).
   • Why you are interested in this fellowship (300 words max).
   • How this fellowship aligns with your professional goals and personal experiences (300 words max).

2. CV/Resume (maximum 3 pages).

3. Research Proposal (maximum 1,500 words):

   • Research question(s): What do you wish to explore?
   • Significance: Why does this research matter? How does it advance gender justice in displacement contexts?
   • Methodology: What research methods will you use? How will you center community knowledge and ensure ethical, participatory approaches?

   If proposing an alternative research topic, provide a clear rationale for how it advances WRC's mission.

4. Two Writing Samples:

   • Submit two examples of research or analytical writing (published or unpublished) where you are the sole or lead author.
   • At least one writing sample should demonstrate your ability to conduct independent research.
   • Writing samples should total no more than 50 pages combined.

5. Two References:

   • Provide name, title, affiliation, and contact details.

📅 Application Deadline

09 February, 2026

🌐 Application Portal

View details and apply for the fellowship via the Women's Refugee Commission Application Portal.

For further details, visit the official application page linked above.

• Research Stipend
• Research support from WRC staff
• Peer learning and cohort support
• Opportunities to present findings at convenings and publish through WRC platforms.